CHICAGO -- The Chicago White Sox and Cleveland Guardians will both turn to openers to begin Game 3 of the American League Division Series on Wednesday, with the White Sox starting lefty Sean Newcomb against Guardians right-hander Daniel Espino.
With the White Sox holding a 2-0 advantage in the best-of-three series, it is a must-win game for the Guardians at Rate Field.
The opener role is nothing new for Newcomb, who has logged four saves this season but also started six times. The paradoxical pattern of usage has become typical of a White Sox staff that has juggled roles for most of the season and has continued the irregular usage pattern during a 4-0 start to the postseason.
"There was a handful of us in that same role, and we were kind of feeding off each other and working with each other to prepare and handle it," said Newcomb, who went 2-5 with a 3.09 ERA this season and posted a 0.84 ERA during his six outings as an opener. "So it's been good operating this way throughout the season, as opposed to just the postseason."
Newcomb is one of five left-handers on Chicago's ALDS roster and will face the top of a struggling Cleveland lineup that in Game 2 was topped by lefty Steven Kwan, veteran switch-hitter Jose Ramirez and lefty rookie Chase DeLauter.
Newcomb will be taking the ball in front of a revved up South Side crowd hoping to see the White Sox clinch their first playoff series at home since the 1906 World Series.
Espino's selection was a little more surprising given the Guardians' more traditional pitching setup, but the rookie did open three games during the season, posting a 6.25 ERA. He had a 4.11 ERA over his first 14 big league appearances.
He was the Guardians' first-round draft pick in 2019, but his development was sidetracked by numerous injuries that included two shoulder surgeries and four missed seasons. He will begin Cleveland's quest to keep its season alive but given the circumstances, it means a lot more than that immediate task.
"I was wishing just to throw a baseball," Espino said. "I'm now starting a Game 3. It's just really important, but every step that I've taken in my life has been really important, since leaving my home in Panama, to moving to the States, and tomorrow."
Guardians manager Stephen Vogt was straightforward in his reasoning for going with Espino in the win-or-go-home contest and circumspect about his plans for who might follow him in a bulk role.
"Of all the options in the bullpen, I felt like giving the ball to Daniel was the right call," Vogt said. "It's been a formula that's worked, so Daniel is going to start."